I've been amiss lately - so busy with life and fun that I've totally neglected posting some pictures and talking about the inspiration of our latest trip to Hawaii! Let me back up a bit...we went to Oahu in May to proudly attend our daughter's graduation from the University of Hawaii!
It was such an awesome event and we are so proud of Melissa for her accomplishments and Ben for all of his support - they are a beautiful couple and GREAT team! We love you guys and are so very proud of you!
We had lots of family fun on Oahu and then headed over to Kauai for a little relaxing time of our own. We stayed at an amazing spot right on the beach - our sliding glass door opened to the ocean. It had the best view and was the most relaxing spot!
Mostly we just unplugged while on Kauai. We did a little bit of "tour-ing" that I wanted to share with you. One of the places we visited was the Kauai Coffee Plantation. This was an adventure unto itself. We did a self-guided walking tour that was super fun!
This is a picture of some green coffee beans. I kinda knew how they grew, but it was fascinating to see the plantation.
Rows and rows of coffee trees/bushes - here's a link to learn a bit more, click here.
There were lots of cool things to see along the way. Not sure what was happening here? I think Dan made a new friend along the tour! What are they doing....telling secrets perhaps? 😀
The tour ended with all the coffee tasting we wanted! We really enjoyed the coffee, coffee ice-cream, a short walk around the museum and here's one more photo I had to share - an antique coffee grinder!
Well the reason I'm giving you the tour of Kauai Coffee today, is because coffee is the focus of my newest recipe. We brought some coffee home to enjoy and wanted to find a special way to use it. I pondered that while stirring these tasty Chocolate Spoons into a great cup of coffee!
What I created was my version of an amazing sandwich I enjoyed from a food truck called The Green Pig - pulled pork sandwich. Using freshly ground coffee grounds, a few spices and the slow cooker it creates tender & succulent meat and the coffee lends a slow roasted flavor to the meat! Delicious!
After simmering all day in the slow cooker, the house was filled with amazing aromas! I made a coleslaw to top it with and toasted some buns, because this is a big sloppy sandwich and the bun needs to hold up to all that flavor! Once the pork came out of the slow cooker, I reduced the sauce into the best topping for the sandwich - oh my.....is this ever good!
Want the recipe? Click here to grab it and print it off for dinner this weekend!
As they say at Kauai Coffee....there are two good times to drink coffee... A.M. and P.M. - aloha!
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Healing Tomato says
Congratualtions on your daughter graduating. Hawaii looks like a wonderful vacation.
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Rini!
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
Congratulations on your daughter's graduation, sounds like you had a wonderful trip, I love all the photos! And I love the idea to use the coffee you brought home to make pulled pork, it sounds delicious!
Sandra says
Congratulations to your daughter! My son went to UofH his freshman year. Too far from home 🙂 What a special vacation. I love Hawaii!
christine says
Great pictures. Congratulations on the graduation. We have one heading off to college in the fall and I can't wait to see how much she grows over the next few years. I'm such a coffee obsessive that I would love to take that tour. Looks fun! Plus, I mean, Hawaii?! I'd basically do anything if I got a trip there, lol.
lizzy says
Looks like yall had an awesome trip!! Love posts like this... family is the best!
Bowl Me Over says
Yes!! Family is number one, we had a blast!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
Oh between the coffee and pork, this girl is in heaven.
Bowl Me Over says
Awesome, I hope you give it a try!!
Sandi Gaertner (@sandigtweets) says
What a beautiful place. I don't know how we missed this when we were in Kauai last summer...we definitely love coffee.
Bowl Me Over says
It is a beautiful place, just magical!
The Food Hunter says
Very cool! We stayed on a coffee plantation in Maui. it was the best coffee I ever had.
Bowl Me Over says
Very fun - we loved Java Kai coffee too, did you try that coffee?
Bill Schlack says
Looks like you spilled some of the coffee on the ground when you got into the cup.
Bowl Me Over says
Hahaha Bill you are too funny! 😀 Thanks for stopping by!!!
Lois says
This sounds like a great idea for a great dinner. Also should be very easy to do. The coffee grinders was great. Loved the pictres.
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you Mom - it was such a fun vacation!